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My Towing Mirrors

Discussion in 'Towing' started by 05silverTaco, Dec 28, 2008.

  1. May 3, 2010 at 5:05 PM
    #41
    mossyduck

    mossyduck New Member

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    jc
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    ziltch
    i went an ordered the mirrors an there sitting in my living room as we speak, im deffantly gonna do this job this weekend cause i cant see whats behind me when towing my 20' jet sled or when i have my cab over camper on
     
  2. May 25, 2010 at 7:23 AM
    #42
    StarGazer

    StarGazer Well-Known Member

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    First Name:
    MegaMan!
    Wherever, Tx.
    Vehicle:
    2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab 4x4
    I've done so many mods to this truck it turned out to be a Dodge Ram 2500! WOW was that expensive!!
    What did you use to drill out part of the door frame? Also, I don't think I'm going to be able to do the countersink way as I'm not a mechanic and don't have all the tools that you have @ a shop (wish I did cause that sound like a better mounting).

    Lynn
     
  3. Jun 3, 2010 at 7:33 PM
    #43
    StarGazer

    StarGazer Well-Known Member

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    First Name:
    MegaMan!
    Wherever, Tx.
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    I've done so many mods to this truck it turned out to be a Dodge Ram 2500! WOW was that expensive!!
    O.K., I've been wanting to do this mod ever since I read it. So it's been over a month cause I had to wait for the mirrors to get in and to arrange for a long weekend (like Memorial Day) so my dad could help me. My dad being a double "E" (Electrical Engineer) and wanting the mod to be perfect in his eyes did it a little bit differently than 05silverTaco did. After buying the 3/8" semi truck mud flap (bought a larger size for just in case we screwed up on the first few cuttings) my dad wanted to use a much thinner material like 2.8 inches in thickness.

    Gasket-2_a243125c648590c8b06ca20b65a4bb69b9cf3db1.jpg

    Sealantongasket_b11cfbd3b26e08ff2a401341dbdceb13ee74dd75.jpg

    Template for gasket
    Templeteforgasket-1_f22ae9c58a209f24dbed90a47995adfc7708138d.jpg

    Sealer and used as glue
    Sealerforgasket_747e6c9c16fbf32255507e623d29041f64b22ad6.jpg

    Electrical box for spacer (cut off both sides)
    Spacer-1material_c45ec33a9e1734ecdb5fbbb31e304976e2ac7a93.jpg

    What I used from the electrical box as a spacer
    Spacer-2_79b8099542c61b2b795c1556ad7e2c97bf017a4a.jpg

    Spacer after cutting it to size
    Spacer-3_f21ad0e24a52966c20d28c6ec0d993f4e17a2cfb.jpg

    We cut this notch out for the electrical cable to fit behind the spacer
    Spaceforcable_40bb6b877226bf99e1c46f1d88d422a0156183e2.jpg

    We added these washers for extra support for the spacer (not sure we needed the notch after adding them) but what's done is done
    Spacersforspacer_c3843a580ad4710ac27e5fce8a49adbad9b04dee.jpg

    We kept the original connector on the door and cut off the connector on the dodge mirror and wired it to the other connector from my Taco
    Connectorlefton_7aa5cd1fd92e9d0ac8822e5a05c63400b38be28e.jpg

    Color codes from Dodge mirror to the Taco door connector
    My mirrors work just as if I never did a thing. Didn't connect heater cause we get very little snow and ice here in Frisco.
    Colorforbothconnectors_619b3de0556c94134161a760e61913656c304f8e.jpg

    Half way through, did this to show size difference
    Sizedifferance_89486dd7690f7a82c386e1ed0a3f6a980bb7a021.jpg

    Finally mounted (view one)
    Mirror-1_928fa46e4e65a04fc308e34836772ba50a3043f3.jpg

    View two
    Mirror-2_d36dec880d7d99458db5606d0d236cfb089e83ec.jpg

    View three
    Mirror-3_6cb1b2ab47ea657cebcb11da86a2836e2544fdd6.jpg

    View four
    Mirror-4_134be6decc5e7e5b602dcbd053dbd0fa6b1492a9.jpg

    View five
    Mirror-5_37e5c8a72e559e8c20b1bdc5210a33a33c534e50.jpg

    I wanted to fill this hole in (used piece of the 3/8" thick mud flap)
    Needtofill_8667f2a0120defa073a2bd2ba46cc473e82d72f2.jpg

    We wanted a finished look and no chance for water to get in
    Filledwithgasket_a70f8671c38631d4b8f86246e733e9561273988c.jpg

    Well I hope I didn't forget anything on what we did. If any of you have any questions I'll try to answer them.

    Lynn
     
    Hamer95USA, rfick15 and cali04intx like this.
  4. Jun 4, 2010 at 6:53 AM
    #44
    05silverTaco

    05silverTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Dodge Mirrors, Fog light switch, Always on Fog lights, Firestone Air Bags
    Lynn,

    Your mirror's came out great. Hope you like the versatility of them and enjoy the better size of the mirrors in everday use.
    Mine still work like a champ and look like yours (something Toyota should have done).
    Finaly someone brave enough to do this mod.

    Vince
     
  5. Jan 16, 2011 at 4:48 PM
    #45
    jimc

    jimc Member

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    If i read these posts correctly, the trim piece is about 1/8 inch thick, and the
    spacer is 1/4 -right?? What would the ideal thickness be?
    I work in a shop with CNC mill , and it looks like i could program these parts (or perhaps all in one from 3/8 stock)out of (King Starboard) black plastic.
    http://www.kingstarboard.com/Products/starboard.aspx
    This would give a perfect finished edge radius and pre drilled holes too.
    Since I just bought a TT, i'm probably gonna do this mod, I'll see about the
    material costs and if it's not too bad make a pile of these.
    I'll keep u all posted.
    Any interest??
     
    Newlife likes this.
  6. Jan 17, 2011 at 6:27 AM
    #46
    StarGazer

    StarGazer Well-Known Member

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    First Name:
    MegaMan!
    Wherever, Tx.
    Vehicle:
    2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab 4x4
    I've done so many mods to this truck it turned out to be a Dodge Ram 2500! WOW was that expensive!!
    Sorry I don't remember much about the details anymore. I hope 05silverTaco will respond to your thread since I don't own the truck anymore. I now own a 2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab 4x4 w/ a 6.7L Cummins. The only reason I saw this thread is I forgot to unsubscribe [FONT=&quot]from this thread. Good luck!
    [/FONT]
     
  7. Feb 7, 2011 at 8:02 AM
    #47
    Paul's TRD

    Paul's TRD I'm Not Your F***ing Brother

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    subbed. Just ordered my toy hauler and haven't decided if I want to go this route or just get universal extensions. I like my stock whited painted mirrors.
     
  8. Feb 19, 2011 at 7:51 PM
    #48
    campthewestcoast

    campthewestcoast Oceanfisherman

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    Napa, CA
    Power extend/retract towing mirrors,brake controller,30amp charging system for TT,snug top camper
    Great mod, I was looking at doing this with; www.powervisionmirrors.com. But the cost of the mirrors were just too much. It's the mod I want to do since I tow a 21ft Hi-lo towlite travel trailer.
     
  9. Jul 2, 2011 at 7:33 PM
    #49
    lavoy

    lavoy New Member

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    lavoy
    so. california
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    stock, '01 tacoma
    going to convert to a flatbe to carry 2 atv's. need extendable side mirrors.
    DO YOU THINK I COULD PUT THESE MIRRORS ON MY 2001 STANDARD CAB TACOMA?
    THANKS, LAVOY
     
  10. Sep 4, 2011 at 1:49 PM
    #50
    campthewestcoast

    campthewestcoast Oceanfisherman

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    Power extend/retract towing mirrors,brake controller,30amp charging system for TT,snug top camper
    I've seen a number of different questions, would tundra mirrors work? I think not because the base is to large to mount to the door. The tool to use to trim out the inside metal of the door to mount the new mirror, would be a dremel rotoary tool or sheetmetal snips. What mirrors fit? Of course the Dodge fit, but also the older chevy ( 98-00) mirrors. The bases are small enough to fit the tacoma door. The chevy wiring isn't a problem, it's just the chevy mirror uses 2 common leads and the toyota mirror uses 1 common lead. You just connect all the common leads together. I'll look though the rest of this thread and see if there is any other questions. Stay tuned, I'll let you know what I did for towing mirrors!
     
  11. Sep 4, 2011 at 5:10 PM
    #51
    shawnd2

    shawnd2 Well-Known Member

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    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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    08 Tacoma Access Cab 4x4 TRD Offroad
    Hi,

    Did you ever install the mirrors and make the trim piece?
    I would love to have better mirrors, but making a trim piece is whats stopping me!

    Shawn
     
  12. Sep 4, 2011 at 9:53 PM
    #52
    campthewestcoast

    campthewestcoast Oceanfisherman

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    Power extend/retract towing mirrors,brake controller,30amp charging system for TT,snug top camper
    I had some mirrors fall into my lap, doing a work/trade, I ended up with powervision mirrors from a 98 chevy. The base was small enough to be mounted my tacoma door. With the powervision mirrors, the mounting studs were movable to different locations. To mount them to the toyota door I just had to oval 2 of the 3 holes. I also cut a mud flap out for the filler trim and used a piece of 1/4" aluminum as a spacer on the outside of the door under the mud flap trim piece.I used the factory toyota mirror adjustment switch for the powervision mirrors. Because of the extension/retraction of the mirrors, I wired it into a seperate switch and got power from my power window circuit for this operation and I mounted it in a small encloser box so I didn't have to cut into my stock dash.
    I wasn't able to down load pictures at this time( I need to get a new SD card reader). I also have a complete wiring diagram.
     
    cali04intx likes this.
  13. Sep 5, 2011 at 1:43 AM
    #53
    jimc

    jimc Member

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    Nope, did not make the adaptors or install larger mirror set.
    I ended up using CIPA 11960 clip on types, which are adequate for me, couldn't justify the CNC programming and material minimum cost to do this .
     
  14. Sep 8, 2011 at 8:01 AM
    #54
    jzicc86

    jzicc86 Active Member

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    jake
    wisconsin
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    3 inch readylift block lifts, westin bull bar, piaa lights
    very nice i tow a 18 foot boat all the time and its like 97 inch wide plus trailer cant see shit in my mirrors this is a great idea good work
     
  15. Feb 2, 2012 at 6:19 PM
    #55
    kd8bao

    kd8bao Well-Known Member

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    I installed my dodge mirrors about 2 months ago. I finally got around to wiring the mirrors in this past week. The yellow cheat sheet for the wiring was great. My driver was spot on but the pass was totally different but trial and error got it correct. I kept the factory switch for the mirror controll and bought an after market defroster relay kit. I think it was about 50 bucks. modified one of my knock outs and mounted the flat button to it. I will have pics up soon. The wiring was spot on, the button matches all directions. the gyro in the mirror is nice also. I am getting a new Travel trailer here at the end of march so i will have more pics then. thanks for the mod info to get me started. I hate stock mirrors on these trucks. I couldnt see with my old pop up behind me which is now for sale 3K. in the cleveland ohio area.
     
  16. Feb 22, 2012 at 9:25 AM
    #56
    kd8bao

    kd8bao Well-Known Member

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    Here are the pictures finished

    e6e598dd-1_d9f6dbead11b9004d8443a6a310cd35d9be27a8f.jpg

    97b224d3-1_8a4188f36b3c21818a4949f6fdeda946a1e2c46d.jpg

    656b5efe-1_ee8011f9da02592a20ef11118dc772f785ee17e8.jpg

    304f8909_9f3da9a6dd6bd6576a497f8d6d09010bf879442a.jpg

    5434dcc4_f618606b317e9ea7db7917ce0c580077d07ca2ef.jpg

    and the switch for the defroster

    58f5228a_98fb4af5b1fad6432a1aeb77c95c9d054cbddbc9.jpg
     
  17. Feb 22, 2012 at 2:45 PM
    #57
    MyTaco

    MyTaco Well-Known Member

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    kd8bao, what is the defroster relay for?
     
  18. Feb 22, 2012 at 2:50 PM
    #58
    SOSHeloPilot

    SOSHeloPilot My 1st Muscle Car

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    Missing My Last Tacoma --- Had 11 Toyota trucks in the past and many other Toyota cars too.
    .
    . . . Nice towing mirrors you have . . . I have been looking for some cool "convex mirror stick ons or clips ons" for my OEM mirrors.

    I miss the "tow split mirrors" (regular & convex) that I had on my Tundra .... Maybe the "Gen 3" Tacomas will have them.
    .
     
  19. Feb 22, 2012 at 4:23 PM
    #59
    kd8bao

    kd8bao Well-Known Member

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    The dodge mirrors have defrosters built in.
     
  20. Feb 22, 2012 at 5:28 PM
    #60
    MyTaco

    MyTaco Well-Known Member

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    Aah, ok dont need defrosters. So both mirrors work with the stock switch
    like normal?
     

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